Famous quote by Gregory Bateson

"If we pursue this matter further, we shall be told that the stable object is unchanging under the impact or stress of some particular external or internal variable or, perhaps, that it resists the passage of time"

About this Quote

Gregory Bateson, a prominent thinker in the fields of anthropology, cybernetics, and systems theory, frequently checked out the complexities of systems and their interactions. In the quote, "If we pursue this matter even more, we shall be informed that the stable item is unvarying under the effect or stress of some specific external or internal variable or, perhaps, that it resists the passage of time", Bateson is discreetly challenging the concept of stability and permanence in systems and items.

Interpretively, Bateson is attending to the human propensity to view items or systems as steady entities. This understanding occurs from the belief that some things are unvarying or durable, even when confronted with numerous external or internal pressures. This idea is reflective of a classical worldview where objects are seen as discrete and separately steady. Nevertheless, Bateson, renowned for his systems believing, motivates a deeper examination of this belief.

The first part of the quote, "we shall be informed that the stable things is unvarying under the impact or stress of some specific external or internal variable", recommends a typical description for why specific systems or items appear steady. It indicates that such stability is since these entities remain untouched by specific variables. Nevertheless, Bateson welcomes suspicion toward this explanation, meaning the possibility that stability may be an impression or extremely simple interpretation.

The latter part, "or, perhaps, that it withstands the passage of time", engages with the concept of temporal stability. In a world where modification is continuous, the understanding that something resists the passage of time is soothing but possibly misleading. Bateson's work typically highlighted the interconnectedness of life and the systemic processes that lead to versatility and change, instead of static resistance.

Through this quote, Bateson is promoting for a more nuanced understanding of stability as dynamic instead of static, prompting a shift from simplified, isolated perceptions to acknowledging complicated interdependencies and the continuous interactions within systems.

About the Author

United Kingdom Flag This quote is from Gregory Bateson between May 9, 1904 and July 4, 1980. He/she was a famous Scientist from United Kingdom. The author also have 24 other quotes.
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